Culinary experiences

The past and present of Pr' Mlinar’ Hops Farm in Gotovlje

Best time to visit: early May to late September

Recommended time of arrival: 10 a.m. or as per agreement

Groups of 20 to 60 people

Duration: eight hours

The Rotovnik hops farm lies at the heart of the Savinja Valley, which is fondly referred to as the valley of green gold. More than 1,000 hectares of Styrian hops with protected geographical indication are grown in the valley. The valley has been renowned for its hops, friendly folk, food and drink for more than a century and a half. Owners Miran and Ksenija will receive you warmly at the farm with a shot of hops brandy and Savinja flat cake. The farm has been growing hops for four generations. Afterwards, you will be taken on a tour of the farm and told about the rich heritage of growing hops and brewing beer, from the distant past to the present day.

You will first be taken to the viewpoint at the church of St. Gertrude (Sv. Jedrt), from where there is a spectacular vista of the Savinja Valley, from east to west, from Celje to Vransko, with a close-up view of the hops fields.

Later, you will be taken to see the hops from up close. You will find that hops is not only green gold, but also an abrasive plant that can give you a nasty graze.

You will be taken to the Eco-Museum of Hop-Growing and Brewing Industry in Slovenia, located in a renovated hops kiln and the only one of this kind in Slovenia. A ten-minute documentary film entitled Green Gold will take you back to the days when hops-pickers were brought to the valley by train. You will learn about their work, where they lived and the tales they told each other on the field. A guide will take you to the hops museum, which exhibits the history and significance of hops and brewing for the valley on four floors. You will be served a meal of cured sausage and bread, known as štangarjeva malica, whilst sampling beer brewed to the original recipe of Simon Kukec, the father of Slovenian brewing. The visit to the eco-museum, including the meal and beer tasting, takes two hours.

After returning to the farm, you will be taken to see modern hops-processing machinery, a picking machine and a modern hops kiln. In the meantime, a traditional lunch known as obirovsko kosilo, consisting of warm murke (cucumbers), dressed beans, boiled beef and a roll, will be prepared in the farmhouse. Such a traditional lunch can only be served when cucumbers – known locally as murke – are in season, namely, in July and August. If you visit any other time of the year, you will be served a traditional lunch known as hmeljarski likof, such as was served after an arduous picking season – soup with noodles, fried chicken, roast meat, potatoes and potica cake.

Price for the eight-hour tour with štangarjeva malica and obirovsko kosilo: EUR 14 per person

Price for the eight-hour tour with štangarjeva malica and hmeljarski likof: EUR 18 per person

Guided tour of the Eco-Museum and sampling 2 dcl of beer: EUR 3.6 per person

The hosts will be happy to cater to your needs and prepare other memorable experiences for your group. Your call and visit will be warmly received.

Please contact Ksenija (+386 (0)31 815 039) at least five days in advance in order to discuss the details of your visit to fully experience a working day of hops growers.

 

Information and reservation:

Tourist farm Mlinar

Ksenija in Miran Rotovnik

Gotovlje 45

3310 Žalec

Tel.: +386 (0)31 815 039

pri.mlinarju@gmail.com

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